] who had heard that
Glooskap, ere he left the world, would bestow on those who came to him
whatever they wanted. So they went their way, an exceeding long
pilgrimage, until they came to a great island, where he dwelt. And there
they first met with Dame Bear and Marten, and next with the Master
himself. Then they all, sitting down to supper, had placed before them
only one extremely small dish, and on this there was a tiny bit of
meat, and nothing more. But being a bold and jolly fellow, the first of
the pilgrims, thinking himself mocked for sport, cut off a great part
of the meat, and ate it, when that which was in the dish grew in a
twinkling to its former size; and so this went on all through the
supper, every one eating his fill, the dish at the end being as full as
ever.
Of these two, one wished to become a Mikum-wess, and the other to win a
very beautiful girl, the daughter of a great chief, who imposed such
cruel tasks on all who came for her, that they died in attempting them.
And the first was taken by Glooskap; and after he had by a merry trick
covered him with filth and put him to great shame, he took him to the
river, and after washing him clean and combing his hair gave him a
change of raiment and a hair string of exceeding great magic virtue,
since when he had bound it on he became a Mikumwess, having all the
power of the elfin-world.
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